Inside Out

72

Richmond, Virginia

Sean had left the hotel using a group of youthful German tourists for camouflage. She ate a late lunch at the coffee shop two blocks up the street. On the way back to the hotel, she stopped into the convenience store to pick up a six-pack of Evian. The clerk had the television set on-the words CNN NEWS UPDATE filled the screen.

The announcement said that two of the eight passengers aboard the Justice Department's jet that crashed Thursday night in Virginia were protected witnesses in transit along with five United States marshals and Assistant United States Attorney Avery Whitehead from New Orleans. The reporter stated that Whitehead had been spearheading the prosecution of Sam Manelli for conspiracy to commit murder. The names of the six marshals were being withheld until the next of kin were all notified. The newscaster said that the director of the FBI and the attorney general had scheduled a press conference for Thursday, to make further announcements on the status of the investigation into the crashed jet. There was no mention of the four UNSUBs or that a deputy marshal was killed on Rook Island, and the news report didn't connect the deaths of the sailors to the crash in rural Virginia.

The newscaster announced that there was breaking news in Atlanta, and the screen changed to show a reporter holding a microphone. The camera panned to a door where a stocky man strode toward a waiting limousine. Sean felt so dizzy she feared she would throw up.

The CNN reporter tied Manelli's release to the downed jet and reported that the dead witness had been a “confessed” contract killer who had implicated Manelli as having hired him to commit a dozen murders. The reporter said that all of the charges against Sam Manelli, which had been based on the deceased killer's accusations, had been dropped.

On the screen, Sam, standing beside Johnny Russo, waved at the reporters, a frown on his face. Sean felt as though someone had winded her. It was as if he was waving at her, that he could see her, knew she was there, watching him, fearing him.

Sean turned for the door, but the clerk's frantic calls brought her back to the counter where she had abandoned the six-pack of water and her twenty dollar bill. Sean smiled, waited for her change, and carried the sack out.

As she turned and made her way down the street she became aware of twin shadows-hers and another closing in from behind. Her heart started to pound as she slipped her hand into her coat pocket, gripping the Smith amp; Wesson. The shadow man reached out-Sean spun and found herself facing Wire Dog.

“Sally!” The cabdriver's smile evaporated at the ferocity of her glare.

“You son of a bitch!” she hissed, leaving the gun in her coat pocket. “You scared me.”

Sally,” Wire Dog started. “I-”

“Are you crazy?” she snapped.

“I saw you go inside. I thought-”

Sean could see Wire Dog's cab parked in front of the hotel as she stormed up the street. “Don't you know better than to sneak up on people?” she demanded.

“I'm sorry.”

Checking for traffic, Sean crossed the street, Wire Dog beside her. “I have to leave tonight,” she said. “There's been a change in my deadline.”

“I'll take you to the airport-what time?”

“Eight o'clock sharp.” She had decided she would just grab the first flight to anywhere.

It looked like most of the residents of the hotel were in the lobby, socializing. Max was sorting through the mail at the counter. He set it aside when Sean approached.

“Miss McSorley,” he said. “I hope you are finding our ‘Wolfe' room inspirational.”

“I've gotten a lot done. It turns out I have to leave tonight. I want to tell you how much I've enjoyed my stay.”

“It has been a grand pleasure having you.” Max bowed his head. “I do hope you will return.” He peered at her over his half-glasses and winked. “Good luck.”

As she walked toward the elevator she noticed a young woman seated on a couch beside an older woman, who was laughing at something the other had said. Seeing that the ancient elevator was gone, Sean decided to take the stairs. As she climbed the steps, she was thinking how nice it was to hear people laughing. The two women in the lobby reminded her of how much she missed her mother.